Virginia Intermont College continues fundraising efforts which will help the school restore its accr

BRISTOL, Va. – Virginia Intermont College officials are working to address the school’s accreditation issues and ensure its long-term financial viability, President Michael Puglisi said.

The private, liberal arts school continues its recovery from a 2007 money crisis that threatened its continued operation.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placed VI on probation in June – partly because of concerns about finances. They recently extended the probation until December.

In its report last month, SACS said VI failed to meet requirements for financial resources, institutional effectiveness, financial stability, qualifications of some faculty members and physical facilities.

"We have taken steps – and continue to take steps – to address the concerns raised by SACS," Puglisi said. "Obviously, it’s a serious warning from SACS. Schools can have their accreditation revoked. But we are moving in the right direction to resolve those issues to SACS’ satisfaction."

VI retains its accreditation during the probation period.

"They have a full plate," said Belle Wheelan, president of the SACS Commission on Colleges.

"The financial piece is probably the biggest challenge – having enough money to run the institution and demonstrate financial stability," Wheelan said. "That’s probably why the commission gave them the whole year to get all these things done."

A committee from SACS is scheduled to visit the VI campus in September and must submit its report in October, Wheelan said. In December, the SACS commission will review the school’s latest financial audit, a report from the institution and a report by the special committee.

Commissioners can then opt to extend or end the probation, or issue a warning – which is a lesser sanction.

"Institutional effectiveness is planning and having goals in place for learning," Wheelan said, adding she didn’t have ready access to VI’s file. "It could just be a piece of the process was missing or it could be they have a number of things they need to respond to."

As part of its response to the commission, school officials have established VI Excellence – a six-member team of college faculty and staff charged with overseeing long-range planning.

"We have revised our planning process and our budgeting process, so that setting our goals and objectives is more directly linked with our budgeting process. So that we set goals and objectives that are achievable, with the finances we have available," Puglisi said.

The VI Board of Trustees is also working on a long-range process to determine the school’s future direction.

The school has established a $1.2 million fundraising goal for 2008, with money earmarked for facility improvements and to further shore up its finances, Puglisi said.

"As to financial stability, SACS doesn’t just look at a snapshot. They want to see trends," Puglisi said. "They were very impressed, when they came in September, to see how much we’d raised during the summer months. But they want to see we’re sustaining that success."

VI has raised more than $6.4 million since April.

Addressing financial concerns involves fundraising, reviewing and improving internal financial practices, business operations, record-keeping and resource management, Puglisi said. Some of those changes are already in place.

The school is also working with consultants to advise additional changes to maximize financial resources and assess the need for future building renovation projects.

"None of the $1.2 million [goal] is dedicated to the endowment fund, and we also need to help replenish the endowment," Puglisi said.

In past years, the school borrowed from its endowment to help pay operating expenses.

Some renovation work was completed in the school administration building last fall and the first phase of a major renovation project is currently under way in the school’s Main Hall.

A BurWil Construction crew is currently replacing floors, walls and making other improvements in some classrooms, offices and the dance studios. The initial phase is expected to cost about $200,000.

The school also expects to satisfy any concerns about the qualifications of its faculty, Puglisi said.

"Since we had some faculty turnover during the summer, we hadn’t done a full report to SACS on our new faculty – in terms of justifying any who didn’t meet that terminal degree requirement," Puglisi said. "All our faculty is properly qualified, and we feel like that won’t be a concern."

Wheelan, the commission president, said faculty credentials is likely the easiest hurdle facing VI.

According to the SACS Web site, 10 colleges and universities are currently on probation and another eight have received warnings. The organization provides accreditation for about 800 public and private colleges and universities in 11 states.

VI students are scheduled to return to campus Jan. 14.

dmcgee@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2532